The Argentine says a chance like Manchester United does not come around often, even as some USMNT fans accuse him of insincerity over his emotional exit.
Mauricio Pochettino is done with the USMNT. Manchester United made it official on November 13 that he has agreed to become head coach of their men's team, ending a run many thought would continue for some time longer.
Pochettino, who has previously managed top clubs including Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, got emotional explaining the decision at a press conference, saying opportunities as big as Manchester United do not come around often in a career. That explanation has not landed well with everyone. Some fans called him out online, with one dismissing the display as that of a "great actor," unconvinced the tears matched the timing of his departure.
The exit also raises an obvious question that reporters have pressed him on: why sign a new deal with U.S. Soccer at all if a return to the Premier League was the real goal. Pochettino's answer was essentially that the Manchester United opportunity was simply too good to pass up.
U.S. Soccer now has to figure out its next move. One angle gaining attention is whether the federation should again look for a coach suited to the specific moment the program is in, the way Pochettino was seen as the right fit for his tenure, rather than chasing a similar profile for its next hire.